This is probably the most frequently asked question I get from new players. And the answer is yes you must pay to get additional labels. Creating, publishing, and maintaining TBG costs real money and player contributions help defray the cost. I am not some big time game maker who is cashing in big time. But I am committed to keeping this game going and making it better and your label purchase will greatly help. My goal is to make TBG a truly great place for brewers to hang out and have some fun while talking about brewing. Your first label will always be free and will not expire for 50 years. Almost every other part of this game is free also. But adding more than one label will cost you money.
Here is a link to if you'd like to help support TBG and add additional labels to your online brewery.
There are two exceptions to paying for additional labels. Every holiday season we offer the 'Holiday' label which can be purchased for brew money. This label does not require real money but it also expires on New Year's day. After you purchase a holiday label renewing it every year costs only a small brew money stipend. The Holiday label is a fixed 'Flavored Ale' style and the style cannot be changed.
The second exception(s) occur during TBG special events. At different holiday events throughout the year (but especially in the Fall and Winter months) TBG special events offer prizes to existing players and these sometimes include label credits. The prizes are determined before each event and the existence of credits as part of the prize package more or less depends on the popularity of the event and how generous I am feeling (which is often a function of how much out of pocket money I had to put into keeping the game running that month). Free Label Credit prizes are usually built into an event contest in a way that rewards loyalty and consistent play... that is my thank you present to all of our veterans and supporters without whom this game would be much less fun.
Thank you so very much for supporting TBG!